Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabrite’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Balcabrite’, characterized by its dark red-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, trailing growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Calibrachoa×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcabrite’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant botanically known as Calibrachoa×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcabrite’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. during August 2008. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Calibrachoa cultivars with attractive flower coloration, medium green-colored foliage, and a moderately vigorous, trailing growth habit.

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding selection coded 2333-4, not patented, characterized by its dark cherry-rose colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding selection coded 2376-4A, not patented, characterized by its scarlet-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, semi-upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during May 2009 in a controlled environment in Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since May 2009 in West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcabrite’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Dark red-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower color and from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is CABARET ‘Balcabscar’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,374. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balcabscar’ in at least flower color. Plants of the new cultivar have a darker red petal color than plants of ‘Balcabscar’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcabrite’. The plants were grown in 4-inch pots for 5 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balcabrite’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balcabrite’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in May 2012 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4-inch pots for 5 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa×hybrida cultivar Balcabrite. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding             selection coded 2333-4, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding             selection coded 2376-4A, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 7 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             trailing.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 8.0 cm. Width: Approximately 32.1 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 6.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 14.8 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 1.8 cm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent.             Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of young and             mature stems: 144A with an overlay of 187A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 12. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.             Arrangement on flowering stem: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: At acute angle to stem with tip turning             downward. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly             acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of             mature leaf: Approximately 2.8 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Moderately glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,             transparent. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 137B             with venation of 144D to indistinguishable. Color of lower             surface of young and mature foliage: 138A with venation of             138D to indistinguishable. Color of upper surface of mature             foliage: 137A with venation of 144D to indistinguishable.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Moderately glandular             pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 144D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcabrite’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             5 to 7 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 15. Fragrance: Slight.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 7.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 1.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.             Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: Petal portion N79B and tube             portion 151C, venation of N186A.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 2.9 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.             Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse. Length from tube:             Approximately 1.1 cm. Length of free portion: Approximately             5.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture of upper             surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Moderately             glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color of upper surface when first open: Closest to 53A with             midveins of N186A. Color of lower surface when first and             fully open: 185A with midveins of N186A. Color of upper             surface when fully open: Closest to 53B with midveins of             N186A.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 7.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland             color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface: 13A             with venation of N186A. Color of outer surface: 151D with             venation of N186A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused along lower third.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately             1.5 cm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper             surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Texture of lower             surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface: 137A. Color             of lower surface: 138B with base of 145B.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.             Length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: 144B with a faint overly of             187A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,             basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Filament             length of fixed portion: Approximately 5.0 mm. Filament             color: 154D with streaks of N186A. Anther shape: Bilobed,             ovoid. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color:             8A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 8B. Gynoecium:             Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately             1.0 cm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Less than             1.0 mm. Stigma color: 144A. Style length: Approximately             8.0 mm. Style color: N144D. Ovary diameter: Approximately             2.0 mm. Ovary color: N144C with a spot of N186A at apex. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Calibrachoa has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabrite’, substantially as herein shown and described. 